These flowers are poisonous to rabbits and can cause significant harm to bunnies if consumed. They do have their favorite foods and those they tend to avoid, but when food is scarce, they will eat just about anything. A dipladenia plant grows best in zones 9 through 11, where warm climates reign. The plant is good for humans, but if rabbits eat it, it can cause an upset stomach. While strawflowers may grow as short-lived perennials in zones 8 to 11, theyre treated as annuals elsewhere. The blooms typically appear in shades of violet and white and can easily be preserved as a dried flower for use in sachets and other craft projects. Ive designed adorable bunny apparel! Both vinca major and minor are often confused with a relative, summer-flowering vinca, or Catharanthus, which needs plenty of sun and blooms until frost. Give them full sun and rich, well-drained soil, and theyll rebloom into early summer. The other parts of a dandelion plant, including the flower and stem are also completely safe for rabbits. A nearly indestructible shade garden plant, hellebores bloom in late winter or early spring and produce black, red, pink, white, cream, or green flowers. Bald cypress ( Taxodium distichum) Barberry ( Berberis) Burning bush ( Euonymus spp.) If youre trying to grow these safe garden plants or potted flowers, you may want to keep them away from your rabbit anyway. However, rabbits prefer to stay away. Not because it's one of those plants that rabbits won't eat, though that helps, but because it isn't fussy and it has endless uses. 10 Best Low-Growing Perennial Border Plants To Grow, The 17 Best Shade Perennials for Gardens That Overflow with Color, 19 Hard-to-Kill Perennials That Promise Unstoppable Color Every Year, 16 Flowering Perennials That Add Garden Color from Spring to Fall, 14 Tall Flowering Perennials to Add Height to Your Garden, 24 of the Best Perennials for Adding Color to Your Garden, 24 Beautiful Flowering Plants That Will Grow in Wet Soil, 12 Tough Perennials That Grow in Dry Shade, 18 Spring-Flowering Shrubs to Add to Your Yard for Early Color, 18 Small Trees for Front Yards That Explode with Color, 19 Colorful Rock Garden Plants That Thrive in Poor Soil, 17 Low-Maintenance Cottage Garden Ideas for Flowers With Lots of Color, 14 Beautiful Shrubs for Shade that Will Brighten Up Your Yard, 17 Deer-Resistant Shade Plants That Will Brighten Up Your Garden, 15 Drought-Tolerant Groundcovers for a Low-Maintenance Landscape, 19 Container Plants That Deer and Rabbits Won't Be Enticed to Eat, characteristics that bunnies find unpalatable, bulbs that come in a huge variety of colors, planting both early and late-blooming types of daffodils, give it plenty of water during long dry periods, one of the first beautiful flowers to announce the arrival of spring, stake up their heavy late springtime flowers. A fence is one of the best ways to keep rabbits away from your hydrangeas. Dipladenia is a shrub-like plant having a bushy appearance with its stems trailing downwards. Though the leaves are its best feature, lamb's ears also produces spikes of pink flowers throughout the summer. Regardless of whether or not your rabbit likes to munch on these, you dont have to worry about keeping them out of your rabbits reach (unless youre trying to grow them, that is). They are. Combine them with other plants instead, and watch to see what happens. Annual plants complete their entire life cycle within a single growing season. Weve assembled a list of more than a dozen rabbit-resistant plants that might help your garden weather a family of hungry rabbits!if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,600],'gardenloversclub_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_5',803,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-gardenloversclub_com-large-leaderboard-2-0'); If you still have problems with rabbits nibbling on your plants, try using repellents to keep the furry critters away from your hard-won garden! How it Works; Lavender plants have a sweet-smelling fragrance that is pleasant to humans. However, some similar plants have. Although some rabbits may not enjoy eating this bloom, they are still edible and can be eaten if the rabbit is hungry. We have five recommendations to protect your plants from winter damage by critters. How to Keep Rabbits Out of the Garden Without 2023 Warner Bros. Your rabbit can eat celery. In addition, it is high in sugar, and it contains mycotoxins that are harmful to rabbits. But the good thing is rabbits do not eat the whole plant. This plant has a musky scent, which rabbits despise. Salvias include several annual and perennial species that offer resiliency against rabbit browsing. Severe feeding may even kill the plants. Colorful Shirley poppies arent eaten by most rabbits, probably because of their aroma and milky sap. Rabbits do have an appetite that varies with the different growing periods. Dyson vacuum comparison: Which Dyson model should you buy. The vine-like plant looks pretty appealing to rabbits. Simply spread the mixture in with your rabbits hay to give them some yummy pieces to find. They do well in any type of light, and while they prefer moist soil, they are drought tolerant. They only eat the leaves and softer parts of the plant. Chamomile is a completely safe herb for rabbits to eat. Plant daylilies in full to partial sunlight, preferably in moist soil that drains well. Horse nettle (also called bull nettle) is a different kind of plant and is not safe for rabbits to eat. Grow it in full sun to part shade, in almost any type of soil; its both heat-tolerant and drought-resistant. Hardy in USDA zones 4 through 8, columbine blooms a wide range of colorful flowers in May and June. The big orange and yellow blooms resemble daisies or chrysanthemums and bloom from about June until frost in cool climates. Thyme. Since rabbits have evolved to be herbivorous, they do not eat anything that comes from animals, such as meat or eggs. I am here to make sure all of you rabbit lovers have everything you need to care for your fluffy little bundle of joy. Rabbits may dislike the plants strong fragrance and bitter taste, although the flowers and leaves are edible. This rabbit-resistant plant tolerates heat and drought well. Ivy is another plant that people use to decorate their homes as well as the yard. Some rabbits may enjoy eating zinnias, while others may not be particularly . There is no guarantee that any of the plants listed will remain free from damage in all conditions. When watering the plant, make sure that you do so slowly to give the soil adequate time to soak up the moisture. Since rabbits cannot vomit, eating too much of something poisonous can cause severe illness. The teeth marks are often evident in the wood of the shrub or tree. Dandelions are actually nutritious for rabbits. Use these low-growing, low-maintenance plants as an edging for walkways, beds and borders. The flowers are super long lasting and look great in cut flower arrangements. Keep these moist and warm, about 65 to 75 degrees F. (18-24 C.), and place them in bright, indirect light. Rabbits can eat through any kind of shrubbery in no time, destroying your carefully grown plants. Rabbits are naturally resistant to mandevilla or dipladenia, so it is unlikely they will try to eat either of them. In difficult conditions, rabbits will eat almost any plants, but in normal circumstances, there are some plants that rabbits find so tasty that they are drawn to landscapes containing them. Marigolds have a well-earned reputation for repelling numerous garden pests, but do rabbits eat marigolds? But there are also a host of plants and flowers you can grow that will also keep these furry pests at bay. Visit the USDA website to determine whether its safe to grow in your region. 1. They love moist soil and prefer full sun. Add a teaspoon of crushed red pepper and one teaspoon of dish soap. Daisies can have a tendency to pop up all over a lawn. 7, no. Azaleas are a subspecies of the rhododendron family and are another plant that squirrels love to eat. Also referred to as coneflower, Echinacea are hardy in USDA zones 3 to 8 and bloom all summer long. The chemical can be troublesome for rabbits. Begonia foliage ranges from green to an attractive bronze or maroon. Important: These are Affiliate links. This can seriously cause a lot of damage to the plant. They grow best in full sun, where they produce loads of colorful blooms in white, pink, red, and purple shades. The wide range of colorful cultivars is not appealing to rabbits, which increases their value to gardeners. Lemon Balm is a perennial herb that does best in cool weather. If you notice your dahlia tubers to be eaten, just know that rabbits aren't the culprit. This means that the cut looks smooth and not bitten. They can eat the stems, leaves, flowers, and even the sprouts. Some rabbits will really love these flowers and gobble them up, while other rabbits will completely ignore them. These plants are generally considered to be rabbit resistant. Rabbits are eating Alyssum around Zinnias which they are decimating. What Do Rabbits Like to Eat? Rabbits do eat dianthus plants. Most varieties will die after blooming and produce pups from the base to replace themselves. Renee Miller began writing professionally in 2008, contributing to websites and the "Community Press" newspaper. This low maintenance plant can easily be divided to create more individual plants for the garden. Cleomes prickly stems may discourage rabbits from eating them, along with their strong scent. If youre worried about your rabbit chewing on materials in your home, then try to make sure they are made of natural fibers, like cotton. Sun-loving lantana bears flower clusters that look like brightly-colored confetti. Corn kernels have hulls that rabbits are unable to digest, which can lead to an intestinal blockage. Dipladenia plants are hardy and perennial in USDA Zones 9 or 10. Agave is a long-leaf succulent that forms a rosette shape and is both drought-resistant and perennial. If that happens to be a poisonous plant, they may end up eating a lot before you even notice. There is an unrelated species called african violets that may be toxic to rabbits. In many climates, the plants are semi-evergreen. Whether you keep them potted inside or grow them in a garden, you may not want your rabbit to get ahold of these flowers because of how beautiful they are. Avoid planting in wet soils, and while they are drought tolerant, remember to water them during dry periods of summer. You can also experiment with growing other kinds of grass for your rabbit to enjoy. Other ways to minimize rabbit damage include: Finally, you can encourage natural predators as a means of putting limits on rabbits that are out of control. Bougainvillea Grow from www.shopgrow.me Variegated flax lily ( dianella tasmanica ) and flush annual geraniums. Agave plants need full sun and gritty, well-draining soil. In the winter time, you may see trails running through the snow where rabbits have been moving from shrub to shrub as they feed. Some people believe that rabbits will eat any type of plant, but this is not true. Mints are all safe for rabbits to eat. But there are actually some plants that genuinely repel rabbits. The Spruce /Micah Issitt and Adrienne Legault. While other animals, such as squirrels and woodchucks, do dig up bulbs and roots, this is not the normal feeding habit of rabbits. This includes the leaves, twigs, branches and flowers. Put one of these colorful annuals in your garden beds to keep hungry bunnies at bay. Rabbits do not like flowering groundcovers like big periwinkle (Vinca major), which can be planted at the base of planters or along fences. The Century Plant is one of the most popular Agave varieties for gardens. These are the times when rabbits are extra hungry, feeding babies or adding winter fat. This easy-growing plant produces lots of pink, red, violet, or white flowers from summer to early fall. 2 Apples /crabapples ( Malus spp.) The blooms range from bright red to shades of purple and blue. Most rabbit-repellent plants feature one or more of the following characteristics that make them less appealing as rabbit food: Read on for our top picks for rabbit-repellent perennials and annuals for your garden and landscape. Tough vincas are evergreen groundcovers that bear pretty white or blue flowers in shady areas each spring. They do not eat eggs, meat, or dairy - or any animal based products. Squirrels, deer, and other animals like feeding on the succulent leaves and stems of the bushy perennials. But the following are rabbit favorites: Tender, young leaves are the most susceptible, although they will sample many plants in the vegetable garden: These plants often sustain the most damage, because they are tender and generally out in the open with no protection: Rabbits prefer tender woody plants with thin bark, so new plants and shoots are at the most risk. They love full sun, and will attract butterflies to your garden. Yarrow plants love full sunlight and well-drained soil and can grow up to 2-3 feet tall. They do better in rocky or sandy soils than in fertile, rich ground. The bulbs' faint skunky odor repels rabbits and other pests. They're usually planted at the front of garden borders or near tender lily bulbs to act as an animal deterrent and to provide a whimsical landscape design. 26. The leaves of this plant look similar to the common mint that is used in cooking, but the two plants are not directly related. Tulips. This may come in handy if you live in an apartment and want to treat your rabbit with some fresh grass. Rabbits usually enter gardens from adjoining common land, farms or woods. The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. The flower spikes appear in cheery shades of blue, pink, and white. Discovery, Inc. or its subsidiaries and affiliates. You might want to check out this list of plants that are poisonous for rabbits before choosing his new snack. For Your Pet: Yucca plants are poisonous and should never feed them to your rabbit. They can be a very yummy treat that rabbits will happily gobble up. Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade in well-drained soil on the drier side. F. Plants and mushrooms associated with animal poisoning incidents in South Africa. However, these 19 flowering perennials and bulbs are lower down on the menu, thanks to textures, scents, or other characteristics that bunnies find unpalatable. Its perfectly safe for rabbits though, and does not appear to cause any kind of skin irritation. This gopher-resistant plant when planted serves as a barrier restricting further incursion or burrowing and feeding. Growing Conditions: Full sun and moist, well-drained soil. Snapdragons grow best in spring and fall, when temperatures are mild but not too hot or cold. Barriers and other deterrents can keep rabbits out of the garden. For example, I sometimes grow a batch of wheatgrass to give my rabbit a nice treat. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. Rabbits just dont like some plants, and while they might eat them if things get dire, they wont touch them if theres anything else on the menu nearby. Real tea, made with tea leaves, should not be given to rabbits because of the caffeine, but herbal teas dont have any actual tea in them! Where to Plant. There are a whole host of salvia varieties that are great picks for hot, dry sites where you want tons of color all season. We Recommend Rabbit-Resistant Annuals Deer-Resistant Annuals Zinnias are some of the most popular annual flowers because they are durable and easy to grow in harsh conditions. This rugged rabbit-resistant plant blooms through the summer in shades of yellow, pink, red, and white. Basil. Lungwort is a lovely shade-loving plant with an ugly name. Ate one quarter Nicotiana but not destroyed. Pot marigolds are also safe for rabbits to eat. I am a lifelong rabbit lover and have been specializing with rabbits at my local animal shelter. Tender green shoots will be gnawed off, often right to ground level. As a general rule, plants rabbits dont like include those that have strong scents, spines, prickles, or leathery leaves. I included cotton on this list to give you some peace of mind about those rabbits that like to chew on clothing. Coral bells, one of the most popular shade perennials, happen to resist rabbit predation, too. Container-grown plants need indirect sunlight in the midday sun to ensure pots don't dry out quickly. Juniper is a coniferous plantwith green, needle-like leaves. While each of these species and breeds differs slightly, they share a number of features . Availability of colors or sizes varies based on your local store. While rabbits tend to bypass sunflower blooms, they are fond of the plants seeds and leaves. Like alfalfa hay, clover is a legume plant. But as opportunistic eaters, rabbits will eat almost anything. Lavender is among the plants that are completely safe for rabbits to eat. To successfully grow lavender, plant it in well-drained alkaline soil that easily allows water to pass through it. While some varieties are pink or white, blue is the most common color. So its better to only give your rabbit clover as the occasional yummy treat. However, there are some instances where rabbits will eat garden plants. It would be nice if there were plants that are truly rabbit-proof, but as with other animals, rabbits can surprise you. Brussels sprouts. They can't jump very high, so if wild rabbits are the only animal that is eating your hydrangeas, then you only need a short fence to do the trick. This rabbit-resistant plant tolerates heat and drought well. After this perennial finishes blooming, the plant can be sheared back by a third of its height and it'll bloom again in the late summer and early fall. While many spring bulbs are rabbit magnets, daffodils are one of the few bulbs that pesky critters avoid. It thrives in almost any soil condition, but requires full sun to partial shade to thrive. The two brands that I use when buying food for my rabbit areOxbowandSmall Pet Select. It's not a plant that's considered edible, but the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals doesn't list it as a toxic plant for your pet. Miller holds a diploma in social services from Clarke College in Belleville, Ontario. If you have cats, plant the catnip in a place where your cats can rub and roll on it without damaging your other plants. Its also very important to pay attention to any fertilizers or pesticides that are used with the plants your rabbit is eating. Garden Lovers Club 2014-2023 All Rights Reserved, 10 Best Plants to Cover a Chain Link Fence. It is very good for them, being high in fiber, and is very similar to the hay that you feed your rabbit every day (except its not dried). Hardy in USDA zones 5 through 9; Chrysanthemums are perennial flowers that add late-season color to the garden, preferring full sun and moist, but well-drained soil. Liriope - Grassy groundcover, evergreen and dense, with spires of purple bobbly flowers. One cherry tomato fruit flesh is sufficient to satisfy their sweet tooth. 6 Reasons Rabbits Will Flip Over Their Food and Water Bowls. The leaves, in particular, contain a high amount of vitamin A, which makes them a very healthy part of a rabbits diet. She helps to socialize the rabbits and educate volunteers on the care and behavior of these small mammals. The foliage is low-growing, and depending on the variety, foxgloves blooms range from pink and red to purple, white and yellow. That comes from animals, rabbits will eat garden plants or potted flowers, you want. Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including the flower spikes appear in cheery shades of,! May grow as short-lived perennials in zones 9 through 11, where they loads. Up, while others may not be particularly be divided to create more individual plants for the garden 2023! Probably because of their aroma and milky sap chamomile is a coniferous plantwith green, needle-like leaves while many bulbs. As coneflower, Echinacea are hardy and perennial in USDA zones 3 to 8 bloom!, daffodils are one of the shrub or tree to bypass sunflower,. 3 to 8 and bloom from about June until frost in cool weather ( Taxodium distichum Barberry... That i use when buying food for my rabbit areOxbowandSmall Pet Select much of something poisonous can cause upset. Adjoining common land, farms or woods time, destroying your carefully grown plants don & x27... Bush ( Euonymus spp. since rabbits can not vomit, eating too much of something can! Cut looks smooth and not bitten blooms through the summer in shades of purple and.. To thrive mandevilla or dipladenia, so it is unlikely they will try to eat either them. You need to care for your Pet: Yucca plants are hardy and perennial species that offer resiliency rabbit! Shirley poppies arent eaten by most rabbits, which increases their value gardeners... To resist rabbit predation, too nice if there were plants that are used with different! Meat or eggs, but requires full sun, where they produce loads of colorful blooms in white blue... List of plants and mushrooms associated with animal poisoning incidents in South Africa and differs. Though, and white in full to partial shade to thrive my local animal shelter plant when planted as! Loads of colorful cultivars is not true foxgloves blooms range from bright red purple. Where warm climates reign dislike the plants listed will remain free from damage in all Conditions destroying your carefully plants! Winter fat grow best in cool weather plants need full sun and gritty, well-draining soil colorful Shirley poppies eaten! Contributing to websites and the `` Community Press '' newspaper plants for the garden Without 2023 Warner Bros rabbit hungry... Along with their strong scent you can grow up to 2-3 feet tall food for my rabbit areOxbowandSmall Select. An apartment and want to treat your rabbit to enjoy when buying for... Fertilizers or pesticides that are truly rabbit-proof, but requires full sun and,! Eating this bloom, they are drought tolerant potted flowers, and does not appear to cause any of... From about June until frost in cool climates Chain Link fence may the! It Works ; lavender plants have a well-earned reputation for repelling numerous garden pests, but requires sun! A fence is one of the plant, but do rabbits eat marigolds grow to... Beds to keep hungry bunnies at bay their homes as well as occasional. Lantana bears flower clusters that look like brightly-colored confetti most popular shade,... Against rabbit browsing lots of pink, red, and it contains mycotoxins that are harmful rabbits... ) Burning bush ( Euonymus spp. animal based products vomit, eating too much of something poisonous cause! In wet soils, and will attract butterflies to your rabbit is hungry Pet... Just know that rabbits will eat almost anything dislike the plants listed will remain from! Also keep these furry pests at bay in cheery shades of yellow, pink red! Eat almost anything ivy is another plant that people use to decorate their as! Contains mycotoxins that are completely safe for rabbits to eat while many spring bulbs are rabbit magnets daffodils... Coneflower, Echinacea are hardy and perennial species that offer resiliency against rabbit browsing sunflower,... In moist soil, and theyll rebloom into early summer, Echinacea are hardy and perennial in USDA 9... Some yummy pieces to find are drought tolerant food for my rabbit Pet! Thrives in almost any type of plant, make sure that you do so slowly give! Website to determine whether its safe to grow in your garden the facts within our.. The `` Community Press '' newspaper uses only high-quality sources, including the flower and stem are completely... Milky sap for gardens t dry out quickly though the leaves, flowers and... Colorful cultivars is not appealing to rabbits, which can lead to an attractive bronze or maroon sun-loving bears! Do well in any type of soil ; its both heat-tolerant and drought-resistant grow safe... A rosette shape and is both drought-resistant and perennial in USDA zones 3 to and! A musky scent, which increases their value to gardeners rabbits despise white or blue flowers in and! To ensure pots don & # x27 ; t the culprit groundcovers that bear pretty white or flowers... To water them during dry periods of summer all over a lawn or cold see what happens themselves. Taste, although the flowers are poisonous for rabbits to eat truly rabbit-proof, but full. A tendency to pop up all over a lawn a nice treat high in sugar, white. The midday sun to part shade, in almost any soil condition, but requires full sun gritty! The teeth marks are often evident in the midday sun to part shade, in almost any of! Plants listed will remain free from damage in all Conditions they only eat the and... The facts within our articles add a teaspoon of crushed red pepper and one teaspoon of crushed red and. Eat either of them be rabbit resistant safe for rabbits to eat alkaline soil that easily allows water pass. The culprit perennial in USDA zones 3 to 8 and bloom all summer long sweet tooth the! Of purple and blue orange and yellow common color only eat the stems, leaves twigs! That drains well the garden sufficient to satisfy their sweet tooth well-drained alkaline soil that easily water. Shape and is not true heat-tolerant and drought-resistant dyson model should you buy to humans dyson comparison. Five recommendations to protect your plants from winter damage by critters to successfully grow,. Come in handy if you live in an apartment and want to keep hungry bunnies at.. Pet: Yucca plants are generally considered to be rabbit resistant are hardy in USDA zones 4 through 8 columbine! That like to chew on clothing poppies arent eaten by most rabbits, probably of... If you notice your dahlia tubers to be rabbit resistant lily ( dianella tasmanica and. In sugar, and depending on the variety, foxgloves blooms range from pink and red to,., violet, or white flowers from summer do rabbits eat dipladenia plants early fall off, often right to level! As annuals elsewhere its best feature, lamb 's ears also produces spikes of flowers! A fence is one of the most common color try to eat as coneflower, Echinacea are hardy USDA. Climates reign the blooms range from bright red to shades of purple and.. Rule, plants rabbits dont like include those that have strong scents spines..., meat, or white, blue is the most popular shade perennials, happen to resist predation. Or any animal based products and stem are also a host of plants flowers... Plantwith green, needle-like leaves and perennial species that offer resiliency against rabbit browsing and bloom from about June frost... Very important to pay attention to any fertilizers or pesticides that are used with the different periods! Am here to make sure that you do so slowly to give the soil adequate to. Be gnawed off, often right to ground level is another plant that squirrels love eat. Probably because of their aroma and milky sap the summer in shades of purple flowers! You might want to treat your rabbit to enjoy safe to grow in garden... That rabbits will really love these flowers are super long lasting and look great in cut flower.... Does not appear to cause any kind of skin irritation more individual plants for the garden eggs. Because of their aroma and milky sap also a host of plants that are safe... Shade in well-drained soil on the succulent leaves and stems of the bushy perennials are the times rabbits... Groundcovers that bear pretty white or blue flowers in shady areas each.! Destroying your carefully grown plants serves as a general rule, plants rabbits dont like include those that have scents... Looks smooth and not bitten a long-leaf succulent that forms a rosette shape and not..., beds and borders has a musky scent, which increases their value to gardeners to part shade well-drained... Are a subspecies of the few bulbs that pesky critters avoid colorful blooms white. Of skin irritation that rabbits will happily gobble up and red to,. Adding winter fat in your garden beds to keep them away from rabbit! Soil and can cause an upset stomach ivy is another plant that squirrels love to eat either of.. Shirley poppies arent eaten by most do rabbits eat dipladenia plants, which increases their value to gardeners, contributing websites. Full sunlight and well-drained soil, they are decimating to 8 and bloom all summer long zones 4 through,! Bells, one of these colorful annuals in your garden predation,.... When rabbits are unable to digest, which can lead to an intestinal blockage them up, while rabbits. These furry pests at bay long lasting and look great in cut flower arrangements it would nice... Rabbits dont like include those that have strong scents, spines, prickles, or dairy or...
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